During the first half of the 19th century British explorers eagerly sought
the Northwest Passage, making great advances in exploring and charting polar
regions. "Polar pioneers" is the story of John Ross and his nephew James Clark
Ross, British naval officers who made important contributions to world
exploration. In 1818 John Ross led an expedition to search for the Northwest Passage. He
got as far as Baffin Bay, but when he reached the only practicable entrance to
the passage he declared it to be no more than a bay enclosed by mountains. In
subsequent years he was widely derided for that error and carried the scars of
public and professional humiliation for the rest of his life. In 1829 he
mounted a private expedition to search for the passage, during which he became
trapped in the Canadian Arctic and survived a four-year ordeal of isolation and
hardship. He proved that whatever his shortcomings as an explorer, he could
never be accused of lacking courage. James Clark Ross was one of the most experienced and respected explorers of
his day. He led or took part in eight expeditions to the Arctic, including John
Ross' 1818 and 1829 expeditions and three with the great explorer William
Edward Parry. He also led a highly successful scientific expedition to the
Antarctic in 1839-43. His many important discoveries included locating the
North Magnetic Pole, and he ensured the presence of the Ross family name
throughout both polar regions: Ross Island, Ross Ice Shelf, and Ross Sea in the
Antarctic; James Ross Strait, Ross Bay, Ross Point, and Rosso/ya in the
Arctic. Drawing on family papers and extensive research, M. J. Ross traces the
careers of these two very different men, highlighting their achievements and
defeats, and presents a detailed picture of their private lives. M.J. Ross is a retired rear admiral in the British navy and great-grandson
of James Clark Ross. The story of John Ross and his nephew James Clark Ross, British naval
officers who made important contributions to world exploration.
